PROTECTION PROVIDED BY HEPATITIS-B VACCINE IN A YUPIK ESKIMO POPULATION - RESULTS OF A 10-YEAR STUDY

A hepatitis B virus vaccine demonstration project was conducted in sou thwest Alaska in 1981-1982 to determine the immunogenicity and efficac y of the vaccine, A total of 1630 susceptible persons in the Alaskan N ative population were vaccinated with the recommended three-dose regim en of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine, and 94% demonstrated antibod y to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) at levels greater than or equal to 10 mIU/mL. After 10 years of follow-up, 76% of those immunize d had anti-HBs levels greater than or equal to 10 mIU. During the 10 y ears following the first dose of vaccine, 13 study participants develo ped antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (10 vaccine responders, 3 non responders), and none developed sustained HBs positivity or had clinic al hepatitis. These data suggest that immunization with hepatitis B va ccine continues to provide high levels of protection from clinical dis ease for at least 10 years.